Told from the Rant Stand
-
There is quiet mocking laughter from someone in the crowds of people moving about.
-
The blonde Regent of Peltarch ascends the stand with a pair of scribes trailing behind her. She looks like she hasn't slept in some time, the stubborn set to her expression not quite masking her exhausted air.
"Until such time as the rightful Lord of High Hold, as recognized by the Crown of Peltarch, rules from the fortress built by our forefathers, I make the following decrees.
No member of the High Hold rebel military may set foot on Peltarch soil, save under invitation or flag of truce.
Blackbridge residents who are not part of the rebel force may continue to come and go, but must supply the City Guard with their name and business in Peltarch upon entry at the gates.
The recent mutual trade arrangements between our lands are suspended indefinitely.
Peltarch citizens rendering aid of any kind to the military of High Hold should be aware they may fall foul of statute number one.
That is all."
She pauses before adding;
"Long live the Jewel."
With that, and certainly foregoing her typical bombastic way of speaking, she departs the scene in the direction of City Hall.
-
Autumn - Picks up a flyer from Marty and looks at it curiously. She reads it walking off, accidentally running into another citizen. Then she stops, looking concerned for a moment, before folding it up and continuing on her way
Rika - Can't read and ignores it
Sebrienne - Doesn't take a flyer, but instead looks at the notice board reading it. She traces her fingers along the words, taking her time. She pauses at several points, as if trying to take it all in. This takes some time, which annoys the off duty soldier behind her who taps her shoulder in annoyance. Then she steps aside to let him read too, but then loses her place and has to start back a paragraph to figure out where she left off. Then she shakes her head and walks away.
Meadow - Takes the flyer from Marty and looks at it quickly. She pauses a moment reading it, looking amused. Then she looks up and says, "The problem with all this Marty is that this is long ago and most of the citizens don't care. You're stirring the pot with the crumbs of the few. Worse, the last thing you want to do is have the government rest in the hands of the people. Most of them are stupid, foolish or both, and like children, if asked will take an abundance of candy and get sick instead of eating a proper dinner. So then instead, you are supposed to elect smart people to represent you and make decisions for you. That's called a republic, which if I recall the history of this city, went very poorly. You see, it's not the smart people that get elected, it's the charismatic and wealthy. This happens because once again, you've put the decisions of who's running the government in the hands of stupid people."
"Honestly, I'd rather a nation or city state run by someone who is going to have education forced upon him and is surrounded by other, smart, educated people, which most kings or queens do. Either that or a single, strong authoritative person the people love. Both will make decisions without endless debate, and get things done without specter of not getting reelected hovering over them. That's my take on it."
With that, she hands the paper back, and heads to the gaol.
-
[[Not told from the rant stand so much - but posted on the notice board and delivered in flyer form to interested citizens. ((waiting for DM reply re gold to be burned for flyers))]]
-
[[Not told from the rant stand so much - but posted on the notice board and delivered in flyer form to interested citizens. The flyer contains a quote form Peltarch's primary historical tome.]]
-
[Marty, carrying a barrel over her shoulder, climbs up onto the rant stand. The blonde halfling places the barrel down and stands upon it before starting her rant. She is dressed in dark clothes, having just returned from the reading of Damien Fishers will]
HAIL ALL!
If you would be kind enough to give me your ears for a moment…
When I returned to Peltarch after my pilgrimage, I was greeted by the destruction of our court house and by scenes of death and chaos.
By the blessing of our gods, we are now able to rebuild.
Some of you may remember the tale of how our crown came to be. How King Tidus (bless his memory) became the first King of Peltarch. His first act as King was to give his crown to the people.
Many many years later, the cult of Siamorphe seduced the Sons and Daughters of the Jewel into handing their crown back to the blood line of Tidus. Only those who wanted a monarchy, who were happy to receive a "blessing" form Siamorphe were permitted to vote regarding whether or not we had a King!
Some of you may remember that I was elected as the first “Voice of the People”. My one and only platform was that I would encourage the King George to cast his crown upon the people again, that his throne remain empty, and that Peltarch’s Daughters and Sons would once again govern themselves in freedom, by DEEDS rather than BLOOD.
Now that the latest wave of chaos and bloodshed has receded, Reyhenna Jorino has been installed as regent in place of Damien Fisher (peace on his soul).
My role as “Voice of the People” is ancient political history now. Never the less, I feel I would be negligent of my oath not to raise my voice, and to encourage REYHENNA JORINO in the strongest means possible, to DO AS TIDUS DID! To GIVE THE GROWN BACK TO THE PEOPLE!
Let the chaos end!
Let the people govern themselves.
Let her hear your voice!
Thankyou.
… May your gods love and keep ye.
[With that she steps down from the platform]
.
{{if this means anything to anyone ...}}
-
This post is deleted!
-
Captain Reyhenna Jorino and several other Defenders in dress blue uniforms ascend the rostrum to make a public announcement.
"Attention citizens, I am going to give you a brief update on the current military situation, as I am painfully aware that rumour will run rampant otherwise.
It is true that a mercenary army has seized several of our outlying possessions, mines, mills, townships and logging camps. This army flies no known banners and keeps secret the identity of its paymasters. They are in league with monsters, and have trafficked with the unholy, and the damned."
The blonde captain gestures her hand downwards, as if towards the depths of the Hells themselves.
"I am unconcerned with these cowards and their opportunism. We have faced armies of all kinds before, breaking like waves upon our walls. Armies of giants. Armies of bandits. Armies of traitors. Armies of invaders. Armies of gnolls. Even the armies of the Abyss itself have failed to crack the Jewel of the Icelace.
Do not mistake my confidence for bravado however, for I will not sugarcoat the gravity of our situation. What our enemies lack in courage, they make up for in subterfuge and conniving. Many of you have seen General Del'rosa commanding our forces once more and wonder what of General Williams? I will put to rest the rumours surrounding this.
Our foes murdered General Sally Williams, after orchestrating the loss of the soldiers I had painstakingly recruited in preparation for a disaster such as this. I vow that I will avenge her death with the blood of every man, woman and beast which had a hand in her death.
In the meantime, we must do whatever is necessary to protect our city, and destroy our enemy."
Jorino unfurls an official looking parchment with various seals stamped onto it.
"Given the reduced size of the Peltarch Defenders, we have issued a call to all Guild and household men at arms within the city to co-ordinate with Captain Autumn in manning our walls.
In addition, you have likely also heard rumours of conscription. I can confirm these rumours are accurate.
By decree of Regent Fisher, and under the advice of General Del'rosa, all citizens of ages fifteen and up, male and female, capable of bearing arms and armour, are to report for duty under Captain Lorn Hresh, or in the case of those with arcane skill, under Commander Lycka Zomasdottir.
Conscriptees will receive basic training and will be expected to man the walls or engage in logistical support only; this is to free up our veteran soldiers to continue to engage in offensive actions against the enemy under the command of Captain Larry Gom and myself.
We do not ask this of our citizens lightly, and neither I, General Del'rosa nor Regent Fisher would ask anything of you or your families we would not offer ourselves. "
At the Captain's nod, two youths step forward, one in a Defender private's gear, the other in blue Cerulean leathers with one star, step forward. As they remove their helmets, their faces are immediately familiar to onlookers.
"Private Thalaman and First Star Kasimir have answered the Jewel's call. I have no doubt they are the first of many who will do their home proud until our cowardly foes draw their last, ragged breath.
Glory to the Jewel, and Death to Peltarch's enemies!"
She raises her fist in the air, and then turns, saluting the two Princes, before leading them and the other military officials off the stand and in the direction of the Western Walls.
-
Shannon once again approaches the rant stand, and speaks after a crowd gathers
Good people of Peltarch, it should be no secret that aides to the Lord Regent Damian Fisher approached me after I presented my resignation in public. He did call a full council meeting in an effort to address my concerns - as well as the concerns of so many others brought before him. You may be certain that the Lord Regent has heard the people of Peltarch and has taken their concerns to heart. In doing so, he has also asked me that I rescind my resignation and continue to serve the Crown as Magistrate and I have accepted his request. That he has laid bare all of the Crown's cards, and by Torm, my faith in the Crown and its mission to not only uphold the law, but justice for its citizens has been renewed.
-
City Hall clerks approach Shannon d'Arneau shortly following his declaration.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
-
Magistrate D'Arneau approaches the rant stand once more; he waits for a crowd of some size yet again before he begins speaking
As it seems that the Crown has no interest in meting out fair justice, and seems content propping up its Princess regardless of her actions, my position as its interpreter of law no longer has meaning.
I hereby resign my position as Magistrate effectively immediately. Written notice is also presented, forthwith, to the Crown.
-
Magistrate D'Arneau approaches the rant stand with his clerk; he waits for a crowd of some size before he begins speaking
It has long been my preference to keep my oral arguments outside of the court of public opinion, but it seems that there are matters to be addressed before further damage is done to Peltarch's legal institutions and its own citizenry.
First, let me clarify rulings with regard to the freedom of word: there has been no change between cases of my interpretation of law. Jonah Loch seeks to cite to me my own ruling in Crown v. HEMINGTON (not Hemway, I might add), wherein I ruled with regard to treasonous speech (under statute 1.00), setting up a legal test to determine what does and does not constitute such speech.
If you wish to cite Crown v. Hemway, the most recent case in which the Bank of Narfell attempted to charge Ms. Jorino with slander, you might take a moment to note that I ruled in favor of the Peltarch Times and Ms. Jorino - as Ms. Phinkwell took it upon herself to join as a defendant in the case. My statement at the time was: that in order for such speech to be struck down (under statute of 1.16 fraud), it must be malicious with intent and demonstrably false. I also cautioned at the time of that rule, again, in FAVOR of The Peltarch Times, that while speech that is not malicious or demonstrably false is permissible, incitement to riot is not. Therein lies the difference, Mr. Loch. It was then in the direct aftermath of this positive ruling that Ms. Jorino took it upon herself to wield this ruling as a cudgel against the Bank of Peltarch once more - which again is within her legal right to do.
However, given the manner in which it was done, the court feels that in this action, it did incite to riot a group outside the Bank of Peltarch. This is the point in which those words come to be in violation of the law. Not before it. It will be during trial that a determination is made as to whether or not external circumstances lead to further liability or mitigation. And let me be abundantly clear once more: the actions taken as a direct result of these printed words are what cause the legal issue, not the information contained therein. These incitations are captured under the negligence statutes (1.05 negligent murder and 1.10 negligent harm).
Which brings me to my next point, Mr. Loch. You are incorrect in your assertion that I dislike the Crown. You are incorrect in your assertion that there is enough similarity between these cases to imply that these rulings are different and you are MOST incorrect in your comparison between myself and the traitor Talbot Anderson. You compare me in your article directly to Talbot Anderson, traitor to Peltarch. You are entitled, by law, to make this derogatory comparison because it is an opinion and not demonstrably false as such. However, if a mob subsequently appears at my residence shouting chants of "Death to Anderson, Death to D'Arneau" and subsequently attempts my murder, rest assured you will be charged similarly with incitement under the law, as one would not wonder where such an idea came from.
You are entitled, by law, to continue acting as nothing more than an instrument of propaganda for Reyhenna Jorino so long as you do not violate these laws. You are entitled, by law, to ignore her exploitation of the poor to the consolidation of her own power and swelling her Defender ranks. You are entitled, under law, to ignore Ms. Jorino's agreements with the Seafarers in an attempt to deny rights to workers in the Docks and across the city so she might maintain her hold. And you are entitled by law to ignore the fact than more than half of the Peltarch Defenders mobilized illegally, into the city, absent delcaration of martial law, on her behalf. You are entitled, by law, to omit the confrontation caused on her behalf between the Defenders and the Guards in the midst of the city. You are entitled, by law, to omit mention of the Lord Regent and his wise and prudent handling of the situation outside the gaol in a fair and just manner that ended the confrontation without violence. You are entitled, under law, to omit, also, that the Lord Regent saw fit to leave this case in my hands. He did not find my actions wise; he did not find my actions prudent; but he did find my actions principled.
It is with the Crown, and solely with the Crown, that final say in all legal matters reside. This is what the people of Peltarch voted for those years ago. If the Lord Regent wishes a different outcome, he need but declare it to be so. The Crown being absolute in authority, ask yourself: where do matters stand now?
However, as it seems that within the court of public opinion - true or not, in actuality - the citizenry believes me incapable of handling this case with impartiality and I understand this. I understand the want for a fair and just system of law that acts beyond personal entanglement. And because it would be unreasonable to ask the citizens of the Jewel to think otherwise at this point. I hereby defer the trial to the court of Magistrate Vlana Borodin.
-
Yet again making an appearance, the bard Mashal performs for the passing city folk, this time a mandolin in hand:
Rika the barbarian a common sight to us all,
Beautiful and deadly, standing a head above us tall.
Alas she does not understand this bard's going rate,
So here I shall sing of her of being a cheapskate.What is a hundred gold to a common adventurer,
When quests and raiding get you rich just like an emperor.
Not only did she request this song just for her,
She did it after implying my skills were inferior.For she said she did not like city folk, calling us all weak,
Not strong enough to do battle, no lives do we reap.
Tell me my good sir, my fine lady in passing,
Would you take that in stride from a vulgarian trespassing?Now she leaves stones after battle as a prayer to her God,
With her name emblazoned on it's back for him to be awed.
So if you do come across someone out for her in vengeance,
Do please point her out and allow her own independence.
-
The bard Mashal once again making an appearance when the weather permits. Performing for the passing merchants and other folk at the market:
The common folk are in constant worry with every passing day,
with numerous attacks on the Jewel, to the gods they may pray.
But when evil comes a knocking on our city's grandest gates,
We have little to fear, for we stand united against such dire straits.Look not only to Peltarch's Defenders, military or otherwise,
We are all citizens of this city and together we shall rise!
Every single man, woman and child, we can all play a part,
For what is a city without it's people, without it's beating heart?Help out where you can, we are all uniquely skilled,
Not every battle is a fight, with the risk of being killed.
Report the suspicious and the questionable activity,
Certainly the worst we can do is rest on our passivity!With devils now attacking and crimes being committed,
We must all do our part to no longer permit it!
Glory to Peltarch and long live the Jewel!
May the crown be ever bounteous with their rule!
-
Merchants, commoners, and other passersby listen to Mashal's song. They laugh at mentions of tables smashed, and applaud at mentions of new hiers.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
-
On the busier days at the market, Mashal sits on the edge of the podium, performing for the passing people. Dressed in his usual white leathers, he strums away on his lute, singing:
Peltarch the Magnificent, Jewel of the North,
Ruled by a kindly king, an example set forth.
Listening to his people, of many varying voices,
Compassionate and understanding are his very choices.Charitable he is, not just to Peltarch's residents,
He provided for the dwarves, enduring their arrogance.
Look to the Defenders, if you are concerned of his giving,
They tolerate no defiance, tables at inn's they're smashing!Many were once worried, for there was no apparent heir,
But now we rejoice to the crown's successor with fanfare!
Tournaments are held, Knighthoods are granted,
Rewards and prizes for everyone, most certainly enchanted!Make sure to smile and wave when the crown heir passes,
For he too will be as benevolent as his father to the masses.
Glory to Peltarch and long live the Jewel!
May the crown be ever bounteous with their rule!
-
A green haired elf ascends the rant stand, dressed in the blue and silver uniform of the Knights of the Cerulean Stars. Citizens may recognise the reclusive former Senator, Eowiel Senella, who rumours say spends most of her days cloistered within either the private libraries of the Bardic College, or behind a desk in Cerulean HQ with her longtime friend and commanding officer Lycka Zomasdottir.
"My fellow citizens, what a long time it has been since I stepped up here before you! Not since nine became one, and longer, I daresay, but that is not what I wish to speak of.
You may know of late I have made the chronicling of history one of my chief distractions, as I rightly leave the destiny of our beloved Jewel of the Icelace to younger generations. It is the call of history that has brought me before you this morning!
A long time ago, the Nars Pass was infested with a rapacious enemy, and travel across our rugged, wild and wonderous country was ever a challenge. Why, to get from Peltarch to Norwick or back again one had to either know the secret, untrafficked bushways, or brave the roads well armed or ready to pay a steep price in gold or blood. For generations this malice laid claim to the roads, the bridges and the byways across our country, and for generations the free peoples of Narfell united again and again to oppose them.
I cannot count how many times they marshaled their armies to march north, the pass painted ghastly orange and purple with their numbers, the ground quaking with their accursed Warmachines, the air abuzz with the lightning of their Evokers. I cannot count how many times their assassins tried to creep behind our walls in the dead of night, slipping into the homes of our leaders to shed their blood as they slept.
And all for what? So one man could say, "This bridge, this pass, this...this is mine, and none others!" Now that man is dead. General Grag of the Legion put his mighty axe in his neck, and since that day...bar some interruptions...we have had the freedom to travel the length and breadth of our country.
Now, of course, we all know that Grag's heirs have closed the way east. The Temple of Helm, the temple of legends such as Shane Andryll and Kanen Hightower, just liberated from the foul demonic forces surrounding it now stands isolated once more. Why? Does the Legion no longer trust its oldest and its truest allies?
I personally have fought side by side against Narfell's foes with General Grag, with General Lyte, and yes, with General Theon too.
For centuries Peltarch has been the anvil upon which the hammer of evil has smashed, time and time again as it rears its filthy head, and this is our repayment? To have our friends turn their backs on us, to sling accusations at us, to make demands of us? To have our King PROSTRATE himself before them? How much of our blood must be shed for all of Narfell before WE are the ones owed debts!?
When I have bled in the service of the Jewel, the Jewel has bled in the service of our whole country, and what thanks have we now? Our farmers must work themselves to their bones to service a debt? Do not mistake my, my friends, the duergar and what they did to the dwarves of the Hold are vile, and I mourn their losses. But I challenge the notion we turned our backs out of cowardice! The Jewel has proven a thousand times that we will fight for our countrymen if we can!
The one time we could not aid our allies, they dare to call us craven!? How many wars has Peltarch fought without them!? They have come here a time, but have they come every time as they demand of us? For every dwarf that fell in that terrible battle, how many HUNDREDS of our citizens have died to the Eastlander, to the N'Jast, to the Orcs, to the Fire Giants?
But no! OUR singular failing must be paid back, but ONLY ours!
I say it is UNJUST. I say it is hypocrisy! I say they have repaid our centuries of service to Narfell by spitting in our face! We were brothers, once, and together we freed all of Narfell. What are we now? Once we repay this blood debt levied upon us, what are we then? I do not know. But we are brothers no more."
With that rueful conclusion, the elf departs from the stage quickly, vanishing back within the Bardic College as abruptly as she emerged, leaving onlookers wondering if it would be another decade before her next public intervention.
-
**Walking up too the speech stand in the commons is the high priestess of Sharess. With a defender escort of six warriors way too many also likely a request by her. Carrying a stack of papers that one would guess is a speech of sorts as she taps them onto the stand. Looking around at the gathered crowd and smiles tilting her head as she does often laying the paper down onto the stand. **
Hi friends and common folk
impish grin and friendly smile too the crowd
I must correct somethings that i have said as of late as they were kinda false. It was during the siege of peltarch that i signed up to the defenders to help reclaim our city. Many wonderful and brave men and women did the same but once the war was finished. Myself and many others resigned our positions since we had our home back safe and sound.
Tilts her head to the other side looking at different people in the gathered crowd
It would seem that i forgot about this fact probably because of my very important duties to my Goddess the Lady Sharess.
The Dancing Lady, Patroness of Festhalls, the Festhall Madam, Mother of Cats, Foe of Set, the Lustful Mistress, Feline of Felicity, Succubus of Sensation,the Tawny Temptress.Her speech goes off topic for abit as she lists out many of Sharess known titles before one of the defenders cuts her off to get back on topic.
Oh right so yeah anyway seems i may have misled alot of people with saying i was still part of the defenders so yeah sorry about that.
At this point most would notice she hasn't even looked at the papers she had with her.
So at this point i would like to state that i, Hedia Gend, am not a member of any of the divisions of the Defenders and have not been since the end of the siege of Peltarch.
Thank you and may Lady Sharess bless you all with all the pleasures of life.
Hops down from the stand with a grin heading off too her tree to settle down under
-
A hooded figure slips through the crowd and says softly here and there, moving on before anyone can pin him with a gaze
Where is your child?
Where are your children?
Where is your niece?
Where is your nephew?EDIT BY DM SKIPPY
The hooded figure seems to cause an inordinate amount of disruption, raising the levels of fear and anxiety to fever pitchWeapons are now being openly carried on the streets, with guards becoming more and more worried
-
Next is the novelist Isolde Garibaldi, her glass slippers click-clacking against the wooden platform as she takes the stand. A shimmering outfit of emerald green and gold hugs the bardess' figure, the scale-patterened cloth seeming almost to writhe when she moves, the effect sinuously snakelike and decidedly eye-catching. Isolde's voice carries easily across the crowd, melodic, smooth and laden with emotion:
"You reap what you sow", she begins, letting her dark eyes sweep over those gathered, singling one or two out for a solemn, scrutinizing look.
"If there's one thing life has taught me, it's this. If there's one prevailing lesson in all that I have seen and experienced, it's this.
You reap what you sow.
The N'Jast war claimed a man's beloved, destroyed their home and the life they'd built there. Shattered, the man fled to Peltarch, tried to find a way to go on. He made a friend and found small joys to patch the gaping wounds of loss. Until another war came and his friend was killed. Just another casualty of war, a forgettable footnote in history. What's one person's life in the greater scheme of things, in the game of kings and heroes? Nobody cared. So he decided to ~make~ them care.
That man became Chirade, a Sharran who would try to drag the whole world into darkness, hellbent on taking all from it that he himself had lost. For one person can be the world to someone. One single casualty of war can be ~your~ wife, your daughter, your best friend. Before you drink from the war mongerer's cup, remember that.
It's easy to hate.
It even feels good, to rail and cry foul, to take up arms and teach the BASTARDS who hurt you a LESSON! That anger's a poison, the very poison Talbot Anderson used to march our army to the Giantspires. Fuelled by anger, by the righteous rage against what was ~thought~ to be an orcish attack against our General, Anderson easily seized control of the army and marched towards the Giantspires to retaliate. Except HE had engineered the attack himself - and his gamble for power cost the orcs dearly.
I followed in the wake of the army, that day. An hour or two behind, when corpses lay fresh where they'd fallen. Warriors, women, even children butchered, heads on spikes. I followed a trail of blood through the orcs caverns, out into the snowy fields below. You know what followed - you know the consequences for our city, but the orcs, the scapegoats necessary for Anderson's ploy to work, they payed too!
I spoke to their envoy, good people. I witnessed his pain and know that it is just. But he, like so many others suffering, direct their rage indiscriminately. Anderson came from our city - the raiding adventurers come from our city, so our city must pay! But what of Alice the cabbage seller, Nelson the chimney sweep, Tria of Vanity Plates? Are they too to blame, for being citizens of Peltarch? For being human? Must they risk death for anothers deeds?
I wish that we could be better. But left and right in this city, I hear the same blind rage. Orcs killed my parents, says one adventurer, so ALL orcs must die. The fair Tel'quessir says the only tribute orcs deserve is steel and arrow, flame and death - not for what they did, but just for being orcs. He says there can be no peaceful coexisting with such 'rabid dogs'.
I say there can be no peaceful coexisting if you don't dare to try.
You reap what you sow. Anger begets anger, violence begets violence and the wheel keeps spinning. War. Pain, loss, anger, retribution. War again. Now, the wheel has paused for a moment's reflection. An opportunity for ~change~.
Honour, keeping our agreements as Inquisitor Northman says, may yet beget honour. At the very least, showing the orcs that we are willing to give something back defuses their ire. Let's show them the likes of Talbot Anderson does NOT define what it is to be Peltarchian!
We're more than that. We're 'better' than that.
Paying their tribute is not giving in to threats of war. It's an ackknowledgement that what was taken from them was not right and not in agreement with treaties made. But most of all, it's an opportunity to spin the wheel in a different direction.
You reap what you sow, good people of Peltarch.
So what future do you want to harvest?"
((Taking 10, Charisma 20, Persuade 40))
EDIT BY DM SKIPPY
The people listen, but as she talks of orcs being honourable, of the potential of a treaty, the crowd splits; it seems there is no love of the orc. Some seem to agree with her sentiment and disperse peacefully, hoping for a quiet resolution, others are incensed and go off to get drunk and rally with those who would seek violence.
